# vegas

/ˈveɪɡəs/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/vegas
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. the city

noun · CEFR B1 · Informal

a short, informal name for the city of Las Vegas in the United States.

For teachers: an informal clipping of Las Vegas, Nevada, used as a proper noun.

- We are planning a quick trip to Vegas for my brother's birthday party.
- The marketing campaign aimed to reposition Vegas as a family-friendly destination rather than just a hub for nightlife and casinos.

### 2. the gambling industry

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

the world of professional gambling and betting on sports.

For teachers: a metonymic reference to the gambling industry, particularly the odds-making and sports-betting sectors based in Nevada.

- Vegas has the home team as the favourite to win the game tonight.
- Analysts noted that Vegas adjusted the point spread immediately following the news of the star quarterback's injury.

## Examples

- We are planning a big trip to Vegas this summer.
- What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas is a famous phrase about the city's secretive nightlife.
- The rapid expansion of Vegas during the mid-twentieth century transformed a desert outpost into a sprawling neon metropolis defined by its hospitality and gaming industries.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.